Having finished as runners-up in Group C, the UAE will continue their Asian Cup campaign on Sunday in Qatar, with a last-16 tie against tournament debutants Tajikistan. Here we look at some of the national team’s main talking points leading into the knockout stage, as Paulo Bento’s side plot a path to the quarter-finals.
Deciding on the role Ali Mabkhout will play – if any
The decision to opt for Sultan Adil rather than Ali Mabkhout to lead the line for the UAE in the opening two matches surprised somewhat.
At 19, Adil had made only four senior appearances for the national team; Mabkhout, 33, sits as the country’s record goalscorer. But Bento went for the younger, more physical frontman in the games against Hong Kong and Palestine. Adil responded by scoring in both.
Yet a knee injury sustained in the latter ruled out the on-loan Ittihad Kalba striker for Iran on Tuesday – and, dependent on how far the UAE progress, possibly the tournament. However, instead of being restored to the starting XI against the group leaders, Mabkhout was omitted from the squad altogether.
The UAE coaching staff has explained the absence on the grounds of “technical and tactical reasons”. It will be intriguing to see if the 2015 Golden Boot winner, who has nine Asian Cup goals in all, is back in contention for Sunday.
Finding the right balance in central midfield
Abdullah Ramadan, the accomplished Al Jazira midfielder, has become a staple at the heart of the UAE side – fitness permitting – dating back to Bert van Marwijk’s first stint as manager.
Ramadan provides the guile in midfield, his long-range passing precise, his eye for a killer through ball sharp. In the past few years, he has offered the invention alongside Ali Salmeen’s industry.
However, Salmeen has had a chequered injury record of late, forcing Bento to look at other candidates to buttress his midfield. Yahia Nader started against Hong Kong, but the balance seemed off, the UAE too porous through the centre.
Majid Rashid came in for the Palestine encounter and did well, especially with his side reduced to 10 men from 37 minutes. He was selected again against Iran.
The feeling, though, remains that Salmeen, whose Asian Cup has been limited to almost an hour altogether as a substitute, is the ideal candidate to protect the UAE defence.
Improvement at full-back feels a necessity
It is an issue that has long plagued the UAE. For some time, the obvious choice on either side of the defence appeared to be Mahmoud Khamis, on the left, and Bandar Al Ahbabi, on the right.
However, Khamis slipped from view during Van Marwjik’s tenure, and in truth never did excel with the national team. Al Ahbabi, however, continues to represent an unexpected omission by Bento.
Instead, when employing a flat back four, the Portuguese has plumped for Abdullah Idris at left-back, and either Zayed Sultan or Khalid Al Dhahani at right-back. Idris and Sultan have each looked suspect, but they do have only 10 international appearances between them.
Against Iran, and with standout centre-back Khalifa Al Hammadi suspended, Bento went with a five-man defence, moving Al Dhahani more central and playing Harib Abdullah deeper, at left wing-back.
Although that gave the UAE a strong base from which to build, they are expected to revert to a four in the last 16. The make-up of the full-backs could play a key part in deciding the tie.
Al Ghassani aside, extract more from offensive options
Preferring to employ a 4-2-3-1 system, Bento places great emphasis on the three attacking midfielders to support the lone frontman, both in creating chances but also in chipping in with goals.
To the latter point, Yahya Al Ghassani has stepped up in Qatar, converting from the penalty spot against Hong Kong and then striking the all-important goal against Iran that secured runner-up spot in the group – by the finest of margins, on goal difference.
Finishing sublimely after a great solo burst, it also displayed Al Ghassani’s fortitude: he had earlier seen his spot-kick saved as the UAE spurned a golden opportunity to equalise.
Yet Al Ghassani, who played that match as the side’s spearhead, could do with some other players carrying the offensive burden. And, in Ali Saleh, Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo and Tahnoun Al Zaabi, the UAE should have no shortage of suitors. The country’s chances of going deep will depend on others stepping up.
Embrace being able to quietly go about business
While qualifying for a fourth successive Asian Cup knockout stage should not be taken for granted, the UAE have not been at the forefront of the headlines in Qatar.
The hosts, for one, have rebounded brilliantly from their hugely disappointing World Cup on home soil, winning all three group games.
Iraq registered the greatest result of the opening rounds by defeating Japan, the tournament favourites. Jordan, and then Malaysia, both threatened famous wins against South Korea, only to be pegged back in both to draw. Tajikistan have won hearts by getting into the last 16, on tournament debut while, in joining them there, Syria and Indonesia evoked plenty of emotion.
And, perhaps the story thus far: Palestine will for the first time contest an Asian Cup knockout match, somehow coming through in the most trying circumstances given the devastation back home.
The UAE, therefore, are flying under the radar somewhat. Which, given that can bring with it less expectation and hence reduced pressure, could be used to their advantage.
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Western Clubs Champions League:
- Friday, Sep 8 - Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Bahrain
- Friday, Sep 15 – Kandy v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Friday, Sep 22 – Kandy v Bahrain
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Dubai Rugby Sevens, December 5 -7
World Sevens Series Pools
A – Fiji, France, Argentina, Japan
B – United States, Australia, Scotland, Ireland
C – New Zealand, Samoa, Canada, Wales
D – South Africa, England, Spain, Kenya
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Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
UAE SQUAD
Khalid Essa, Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammad Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoon Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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- 400m Olympic running track
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday, February 8 v Kenya; Friday, February 9 v Canada; Sunday, February 11 v Nepal; Monday, February 12 v Oman; Wednesday, February 14 v Namibia; Thursday, February 15 final
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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
